Grumman XF10F-1 Jaguar

In 1949, with the success of the Grumman first jet-powered fighter F9F-2 Panther, U.S. Navy requested a delta wing version of the Panther for more aerodynamic at high speed. With assistance from former Messerschmitt¡¦s chief engineer who worked the swing- wing P-1101 concept at war, Grumman proposed a fighter which looked like the F9F but attached with variable geometry wing, allowing the wing to slide forwards to provide sufficient lift for take off, and sweep-back as delta wing for high-speed flight. The design interested the U.S. Navy. In 1950, two prototypes, designated XF10F-1 and 112 production airplanes were contracted to Grumman. Its first flight took place in 1952. The plane was contending with stability and control problems. After 32 flight tests for a year, Navy cancelled the project as the development of steam-driven catapults made the swing-wing configuration less necessary. Grumman collected the application data of the variable geometry wing, and was to perfect the technique in the further F-14 Tomcat